Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 628,929. Patented July I8, |899.

\ H. ELDRIDGE &. S. BLUM.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. (Application filed Aug. 31, 1898.1 ma Model.) 2Sheets-Smet I.

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llrirrn` l rares- IIILLIARY ELDRIDGE AND SYLVAIN BLUM, OF GALVESTON,TEXAS.

CETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,929, dated July 18,1899. Appnmaniednuguasi,1893. samnaeaattn. (naman.)

T0 LZZY whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat We, HILLIARY ELDRIDGE and SYLVAIN BLUM, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston andState of Texas, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator,of which the following is a specification.

Our invention` is a gas-generator especially adapted for service togenerate and supply illu minating-gas to locomotive-headlights; and theprimary object of the invention is to provide a compact andsimpleapparatus for the generation of acetylene-gas to be supplied to theburner of such headlight. In a generator for this purpose it isnecessary that the elements thereof shall be disposed in an eX-ceedingly compact relation, to the end that the generator may beconvenientlyy carried on a locomotive, and We have met this condition'by disposing the Water supply, the carbid Vessel, the gas-controlledregulating mechanism, and the purifier in asingle apparatus.

Further objects of the invention are to provide means for automaticallycontrolling the admission of the attacking liquid (Water) according tothe gas-pressure in the generator, to provide for the regulation of theadmission of Water to the carbid chamber independently of the main-valvemechanism and also to prevent back pressure of the gas on theWatersupply, to automatically vent the gas from the generator should thepressure exceed the desired limit and simultaneously close theWater-admission ports to the gener ator, to purify the gas from moistureas it passes from the generator to the suppl y-pipe of the burner, toprovide for access tothe purifier and the carbid-chamber for the renewalof the charges therein without dismantling the apparatus, and to arrangethe several parts to attain positive action thereof and maximumefiiciency of the generator.

With these ends in View our invention consists in the novel combinationof instrumentalities and in the construction and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, We have illustra-ted thepreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of thisvspeciflcation, and in Which- Figure l is a verticalsectional elevation of our improved locomotive-headlight gas-generator.Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view on the plane indicated by thedotted line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar cross-sectional view onthe plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4; is anenlarged detail View through one of the packed water-ports from theWater-supply chamber to the carbidchamber. Fig. 5 is a detail plan viewof the `main valve which controls the flow of Water to thecarbid-chamber and theegress of gas from said carbid-chamber to apurifier. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View representing a modin'edconstruction for regulating the flow of Water from the water-tankindependently of the main valve. l

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several figures of the drawings.

Theshell of our lmproved generator may be of any desired form incross-section. lt is indicated by the numeralrlO in the drawings asbeing of. cylindrical contour, and this shell forms a chamber ll, inWhich is contained the Water, Which is admitted in limited volumesthrough'valve-controlled ports to a carbid vessel adapted to contain acharge of calcium carbid, which is to be attacked by the Wat-er tosecure chemical decomposition of the carbid and Water to generateacetylene gas. upper end with a concave or dished top l2, and Withinthis shell is a central vertical tube This generator-shell is providedat its 13, which is joined to the top l2 to open cen- 'I trallytherethrough. The lower end of the generator-shell l0 isy open4 andinteriorly screw-threaded, and the foot of the central tube 13terminates Within this shell l0 and on a plane above theinteriorlythreaded length thereof. The lower open end of the generatoris closed by a chambered bottom 14, which serves to retain thewatersupplied to the chamber l1 and is constructed with ports for thepassage of Water from the chamber to the `carbid vessel, the latterbeing removably secured to the bottom, so that it may be detached fromthe apparatus for the purpose of removing spent carbid therefrom,cleaning said vessel, and replacing the exhausted carbid with a chargeof fresh active carbid, as will herelinafter more fully appear. Thebottom 14:

is exteriorly screw-threaded to provide for its application removably tothe interiorly,

threaded open lower end of the generator-shell 10, and the lower orunder face of this bottom 14 is perfectly flat and level to constitute avalve-seat 15 for the main valve.

v The carbid vessel 1.6 of our generator is preferably ofcylindre-conical form, although this is not essential, and its upperopen end isinteriorly threaded for the purpose of screwing it to thelower threaded portion of the bottom 14, thereby uniting the carbidvessel detachably to the bottom of the generatorshell.

The generator-shell aud the carbid vessel are supported in a raised orelevated position by means of a tripod, to which the shell 10 isconnected; but the carbid vessel does not 'have engagement with thistripod. The carbid vessel is coupled to the bottom of the shell 10 to besuspended therefrom, and said vessel is thus adapted to -be readilydetached from the generator because'it does not rest upon a base. Thelegs 17 of the tripod have the foot-flanges 13, which are fastened bybolts or screws 19 to any suitable supportas, for instance, a base 20andsaid legs of the tripod sustain the ring or annulus 2l. The lower end ofthe generator-shell passes through this ring -or annulus of the tripod,and said shell is formed .with a circumferential eXterior iiange 22,which is adapted to rest-upon the ring orannulus 2l of the tripod.Binding-screws 22 are fitted in threaded openings of the tripod-ring tobind against the generator-shell 10, and'thereby firmly support thegenerator on the tripod.

A sole-flange 23 is formed exteriorly on the lower edge of thegenerator-shell 10, and a vmatching flange 24 is provided on the upperedge of the carbid vessel 1 6. Between these iianges 23 24 of thegenerator-shell and carbid vessel, respectively, is interposed a gasket25, which is adapted to be compressed by and betweensaid flanges whenthe carbid vessel is screwed to the bottom 14, thereby providing agas-tight joint between the generator Iand the removable carbid vessel.Within this carbid vessel is an annular supporting-flange 26, on whichis adapted to rest a grate or Vscreen 27, which sustains the charge ofcalcium carbid within the vessel 16, above the 'bottom thereof. Toprovide for the ready insertion or removal of this grate 27, it isconstructed in two or more sections, which are hinged together, as at23, by an' upwardlyyopening hinge, as shown by Fig. 1, and in removingthis grate its sections are drawn together or collapsed, so that thegrate may be folded previous to withdrawing it from the vessel 16.

The partition or chamber 14 tothe generator-'shell is provided with atubular boss 23, which rises centrally from the bottom, and this boss isvof a diameter to fit snugly in the lower open end of the central tube13 within the generator-shell. A gasket 29 is iitted around this tubularboss and interposed betweenthe lower extremity of the central tube 13and the bottom 14. By screwing the bottom to its place within the openend of the generator-shell the gasket 29 is compressed between the tube13 and the bottom 14, and a tight joint is thus secured between the tube13 and bottom 14 to prevent the water from leaking into the tube 13 orthe gas from passing from the tube 13 into the water-chamber of theshell 10. The bottom 14 is furthermore provided with a series oftransverse water-ports 30 in the vertical plane of the chamber 11, andeach port 30 is enlarged at the lower portion thereof, where itopensthrough the lower valve-face 15 of the bottom 14. Each port has itsenlarged lower portion interiorly screw-threaded to receive theeXteriorly-thigeaded plugs 32, which are screwed into the port, and thisplug has a central opening The plug does not entirely ll the enlargedportion 3l of the water-port; but it leaves a small space or chamberadapted to receive a fibrous packing 34, which may be of any suitablematerial-as sponge, forexample. The fibrous packing is compressed in thewater-port by screwing the perforated plug 32 therein, and this packingprevents the rapid passage of water through the'port and prevents thepressure of gas from retarding the flo-w of water from the chamber 11 tothe carbid vessel. The water is adapted to percolate or drip through thecompressed iibrous packing and escape through the central opening 33 ofthe plug 32 when the main valve is open, and thus provision is made forregulating the dripl or iiow of water through the port 30 irrespectiveof the main valve, because the plugs 32 may be adjusted to compress thepackings more or less, and thereby vary the quantity of water which mayescape through the ports 30.

While we have shown and described perforated .pl ugs and fibrouspackings to becompressed by adjusting the plugs in the ports 30, we donot strictly coniine ourselves to the detailed construction hereinillustrated, because we are aware that compressible plugs for use in theports 30 may be employed in lieu of the'nietallic plugs and fibrouspackings.

The main valve is in the form of a flat disk arranged horizontallywithin the partition or bottom 14 for vertical movement therein towardor from the valve-face 15, and this main valve serves to cut off theflow of Water entirely from the ports 30 to the carbidchamber and thepassage of gas from said chamber to the central gas-tube 13 of thegenerator. This cut-off valve 35 is arranged to cover all of the ports30 and the perforated plugs 32 therein, as well as the lower open end ofthe central tubular boss 28a on the bottom 14, where said boss opensthrough said bottom 14. The main cut-off valve, however, is not a solidor imperforate disk; but it is provided with openings or slots 35 topermit ICO IIO

the water from the ports 30 and valve-plugs 32 to trickle over thesurface of the valve and pass through said slots upon a distributingspraying-grate, which is supported by the bottom 14 above the carbidvessel, as will presently appear. A gasket 36 is interposed between thevalve-seat face 15 of the bottom 14 and the main cut-oit valve 35 forthe purpose of securing a gas-tight joint between the bottom 14 and theValve when the latter is closed, and this valve is rigidly secured to astem br rod 37, which is connected with a diaphragm-regulator that isexposed to thel pressure of gas and is adapted to raise the rod or stemand the valve when the' gas attainsa certain pressure within thegenerator. The valve stem or rod 37 passes through the central gas-tube13 of the generator and through a diaphragm-chamber,and the lowerthreaded end of this stem or rod 37 extends through a central opening inthe cut-oft' valve 35. The valve and its rod are secured tirmly togetherby the nut 38 and the washers 39 40, said washers being applied toopposite sides ot the valve and thenut being screwed to the threadedextremity of said valve-rod. This valve stem or rod is hollow ortubular, with its lower end opening through the lower face of the valveand the nut 38 thereon, while the upper end of said stem is formed witha seat for the accommodation of a safety or Vent Valve7 which is adaptedto beopened automatically on the accumulation of gas within thegenerator above the desired pressure, and this valverod is thus adaptedto operatively connect the diaphragm-regulator and the main cut-oi valveto control the latter from the former and also to serve in connectionwith a safety-Valve, by which the generator-may be vented when thegas-pressure increases above the desired point. The washer' 40 is ttedagainst the gasket 36 on the upper face of the main cut-oft valve, andthis washer serves as a metallic seat fora return or depressingspring4l,which, in connection with the weight of the valve and itsstern, tends to move the valve to its open position on a decrease in thepressure of gas in the generator. The spring 41 is housed or containedin the chamber of the tubular boss 28", and one end of this spring isseated against the head 42 of said boss 28. This boss opens through thelower face of the chambered bottom 14, and it extends into the centralgastube 13 ot' the generator, so that when the main valve 35 is loweredthe gas from the carbid vessel is free to pass through and around thevalve 35 into the chamber of the tubular boss 28, and the head 42 ofsaid boss has a plurality of gas-ports 43, which provide for the'passage of the gas from the boss into the central gas-tube 13.

The generator-shell 10 is provided with an internally threaded {iange44, which protrudes above the dished top 12, and into this flange isscrewed the flanged and threaded cover 45, thus uniting the coverdetachably to the generator-shell. The dished top and the cap or cover45 form between themselves a diapliragxncl1amber 46, in which iscontained a leXible diaphragm 47, of rubber fabric, leather, or anyother suitable material. This diaphragm has its edge iitted upon a'flatfaceof the dished top 12, and on said edge of the diaphragm is fitted ametallic washer or ring 48, upon which bears the flange of the cap orcover 45, whereby the cover is adapted to clamp the ring 48 firmly uponthe flexible diaphragm and confine the latter circumferentially withinthe diaphragm-chamber 46. This diaphragm is exposed to the pressure ofthe gas which passes through the central tube 13 of the generator andcommunicates with the chamber 46, and to the diaphragm is attached orfastened the tubular stem or rod 37 of the main valve 35. This stem orrod is threaded exteriorly at two places 49 50 at and near its upperend, leaving an intermediate smooth portion for the guidance of the stemin a guide-nange 53 of the cover 45. On the threaded length 49 of thevalve-stem are screwed the nuts 51, arranged on opposite sides of thediaphragm 47and between the nuts and the piaphragm are the washers 52,which engage with the diaphragm and pre- Vent wear thereon by adjustmentof the nuts. A regulating-nut 54 is screwed on the threaded length 50 ofthe valve-stem 37, and this nut is adapted to be rotated to engage withthe guide-ange 53 ofthe cover 45. Normally the regulating-nut 54isadjusted on the valvestem to allow thelatter to play vertically with thediaphragm and adjust the main valve without permitting the nut 54 torest upon the guide-ange 53; but when it is desired to close the valve35 against the passage of water to the carbid vessel or the How of gasfrom said vessel to the central tube 13 of the generator the nut 54 maybe screwed down against the guide-flange 53 to raise the valve-stem 37and force the main valve 35 against its seat on the bottom 14, wherebythe ports 30 and the lower open end of the tubular boss 28a may betightly closed.

The upper end of the tubular valve stem or rod 37 is formed with avalve-seat 55, upon which is adapted to iit a conical vent-valve 56,which is housed within a shell 57, screwed on a threaded upper extremity50 of the valvestem. The vent-valve is normally depressed to rest uponthe seat on the tubular valvestem by aA spring 58, which is containedwith- IIO in the valve-shell 57, that travels with the Y stem 37, andthis shell may be adjusted on the stem to compress the spring and forcethe valve 56 tightly against the seat. The valve-shell 57 is adjusted toplace the spring under a tension sufficient to hold the valve to itsseat against the pressure ot the gas within the generator; but when thegas eX- ceeds the pressure to which the spring is adjusted the valve islifted and the gas is free to escape through the stein 37 and ports 59,which are provided in the shell 57 of the safety-valve. A jam-nut 60 isscrewed on als the threaded length 50 of the valve-stem 37 Vto bindagainst the shell of the vent-valve and hold thelatter againstdisplacement when it is adjusted to close the vent-valve.

The chambered bottom 14 of the generator-shell is provided with thedepending arms or extensions 6l, which support the distriblu'tin'gor'spraying screen 62 below the bottom 14 and over the carbid vessel.This screen has a rim 63, provided with openings for the reception ofthreaded stems 64, which are attached Ito the extensions 61, and onthese stems lare yscrewed the nuts G5, which serve to hold the screens62 removably in place below the valve 35, which is housed within thec'hambered bottom 14.

Awater-inlet nipple 6G is provided on one -side of the generator-shell10 to communicate with .the water-chamber 11 therein, and this 'nippleis interiorly 1h readed to receive a threaded plug `67, which may beremoved whenit is desired to lill the chamber 1l with water. This plug67 has a vertical port or l'opening 67, which provides for the admis-'sion of atmospheric air to the water-chamber 1'1, 'and the water inthis chamber is thus eX- posed to air-pressure, so as to insure thewater passing through v'the ports 30 in the bottom 14. To provide fordrainage of water from this chamber 11 a drain-,cock 68 is provided onone side of the generator-shell 10 above the point where ysaid shell islseated on the ring ofthe tripod, and by opening this cock 68 the watermay pass vfrom the Achamber 11 to enable theflatter to be cleaned.

In connection with our generator we employ a puriiieradapted to containa charge of vcalcium carbid, which by its affinity to water eliminatesthe moisture which is contained in acetylene gas produced within thegenerator. The shell 70 of this purifier is mounted on and coupled tothe gen erator-shell 10, andv the ends of said purifier-shell are closedby the heads'l, packings 72 being interposed between the heads and theendsof the shell 70 to secure gas-tight joints. Vithin this shell 70 isan annular flange 73, which' `supports a screen or grate 74, on which isplaced a charge of calcium carbid. The puriiieris coupled to thegenerator by the threaded tube 75, which communicates with the-chamberof the vpurifier belowl the grate or screen .74 therein, so that the gasis compelled to travel throughthe carbid on the grate before it find-sits egress from the purifier, whereby .the vgas subsequent to itsgeneration is again subjected to the action of calcium carbid for @theelimination of :moisture from the gas. The purifier is operativelyconnected with thecentral tube 13 of the generator by a pipe .connection77, the inner end of which opens Vinto the tube 13, and the outer endthereof is interior-ly threaded for union by the coupling l75 with thepurifier. veyed from the purifier to the burner ofthe headlight througha suitable pipe or tube, `(not shown,) adapted to be coupled to the Thegas is conpipe connection 78, which is arranged above the screen orgrate 74 and is shown as eX- tending from one side of thepurifier-shell.

The operation of our apparatus may be described as follows: The severalparts of the apparatus having been assembled ont'he generator-shell, itis tted in the supporting-ring of the tripod, and the clamping-screwsare adjusted to rml y bind the generator-shell in place. Before fillingthe chamber 11 of the shell 10 with water the adjusting-nut 54 isoperated to lift the valve-stem 37 and force the out-off valve 35 partlyagainst its seat on the bottom 14 to prevent water from dripping frontithe ports 30 and the perforated plugs therein. Water may now beintroduced into the chamber 11 through the nipple 66, and t-he plug 67is then screwed into the nipple to allow `air to pass into the chamber1l. The charge lof calcium carbid is now introduced into the purifier torest upon the grate therein, and

'the upper head is replaced to make a'tight joint. The carbid vessel 16is also charged with a quantity of fresh active carbid, which rests uponthegrate, and the vessel is then screwed to the bottom 14 to make atight joint vthrough the medium of the gasket with the flange at thelower end of the generator-shell 10. An off-bearing gas pipe or tube -isnow coupled to the pipe connection 78, after which.

the regulating-nut 54 is turned to lift it from the guide-[lange 53 ofthe cover45. The valve 35 now descends owing to its weight and theaction of the depressing-spring thereon, and water is thus permitted topass through the ports 30 and the valve-plugs 32 to trickle over thevalve and the distributing grate or screen 62. .As the water yattacksthe carbid in the vessel 16 `acetylene gas is at once evolved by thedecomposition ot' the wat-er and carbid and the gas flows vfrom thevessel 16 around thevalve and through the tubular boss 28a and its portsinto the centra'lgastube 13 of ythe generator. The gas flows through theconnection 77 into the purifier below thegrate 74 thereof, and the gasis thus brought in contact with the-second charge of carbid containedwithin `the purifier, which carbid is adapted to absorb the moisturefrom the gas,and thereby dehydrate the latter, so that the gas reachesthe burner in a drycondition. When the water is dripping on the carbidwithin the vessel 1G and the genera- -tion of gas is in progress, thepressure to the burner is regulated by the iiexible diaphragm 47, whichis exposed to the gas-pressure in the tube 13 and the chamber 46, and anexcess of gas-pressure moves the diaphragm in an upward direction,therebylifting the valve 35 to :its seat, whereby the flow of water tothe carbid is cut olf and the passageof gas from the vessel 16 to the`puriiier is arrested. Of course a decrease of the pressure in the tube13 and the diaphragm-chamber, due to the -consumption of the gas at theburners, allows the valve and its stem, assisted by the action of thespring 4l, to descend away from ICO the seat-face ot the bottom 14,thereby opening the passages for the flow of water to the carbid-chamber1G and. permitting the gas to flow from the generator to the pu ri tier.Should there be an accumulation of gas in the carbid vessel 1G after theinlet of water shall have been arrested by the closing of the valve 35,the gas will pass through the tubular stem or rod 37 and act against thevent-valve 56 to open the latter against the pressure of the spring 5S;but in order to open this ven t-valve the pressure ofthe gas within thecarbid-chamber must exceed the pressure of the gas that acts against thediaphragm, which, through the rod, holds the valve 35 to its seatagainst the bottom 14. In the generation of the gas some of the carbidin the vessel 16 is decomposed, and the charge of carbid in the purifieris also decomposed by the absorption of themoisture from the gas as itpasses to the burner. The spent or exhausted carbid in the vessel 16 andthe purifier is free to sift through the grates or screens which arecontained within the vessel 16 and the purifier, thus presenting thefresh or active carbid to the action of the water which is admitted tothe vessel 16 and to the gas as it traverses the puriiier. To arrestthegeneration of gas, the nut 54 is screwed on the valve-stem to rest uponthe iiange 53 oit' the cover 45, and this adjustment of the nut liftsthe stem and main valve to prevent the water from flowing through theports and the plugs in the bottom 14C.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings we have illustrated a screw-plug 8O toregulate the volume of water which may pass through the port 30 in lieuof using the screw-plug and the fibrous packing. This plug SO has anextended stem 81 to enter the contracted part of the port 30, and it hasa longitudinal slot 82, that forms a channel for the flow of waterthrough the plug when it is screwed down to unseat it. To convenientlyadjust the plug, the lower face thereof has a notch or niche 83 toreceive the end of a screw-driver or other implement.

Changes may be made in the form of some of the parts, while theiressential features are retained and the spirit of the inventionembodied. Hence we do not desire to be limited to the precise form ofall the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim isl. The combinationwith a water-chamber and a carbid-chambenot a partition between said ehambers and provided with water-ports and a gas-port7 a single cut-01T:valve arranged by a single movement to close the Water and gas ports,and a gas-pressure regulator oonnected with said valve to positivelyseat the latter on an increase of gas-pressure above a certain limit,substantially as described.

2. The combination with awater-chamber and a carbid-chamber, of apartition between said chambers and provided with water-ports and with agas-port, a gas-passage connected to said partition to communicate withthe gas-port, a diaphragm-regulator conned in said gas-passage to beexposed to the pressure of gas therein, a single valve arranged to beseated against the partition for closing the ports therein, and avalve-stem attached to said valve and the regulator, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a water-chamber and a carbid-cham ber, ofapartition arranged between said chambers and provided with water andgas ports, a valve arranged to be seated against said partition to openor close the water and gas ports simultaneously, and apressure-regulater operatively connected with said valve, substantiallyas described.

Ml. The combinationrwith a water-chamber having water-ports, agas-passage, and a carbid-chamber, of a single valve arranged to controlthe admission of water to the carbidchamber and the exit of gastherefrom, a tubular valve-stem connected to said valve for movementtherewith, a vent-valve normally seated on said tubular valve-stem totravel with the same and arranged to be opened automatically bygas-pressure in excess of the pressure required to seat the valve, and aregulator operatively connected with said valve to seat the latter whenthe gas-pressure attains a certain limit below that required to unseatthe vent-valve, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the com-` bination with awater-chamber and a carbidchamber, of a partition provided withwaterports, a gas-passage extending through the Water-chamber andopening through said partition to communicate with the carbid-chamber, asingle cut-oft valve arranged below said partition and movable relativethereto for simultaneously closing the gas and water ports, adiaphragm-regulator coniined within said gas-passage, a single rod orstem extending through the gas-passage and connected to IOO IIO

said valve and the diaphragm-regulator, the

upper end of said stem arranged to protrude beyond theregulator-chamber, and a regulating-nut iitted to said protruding end ofthe valve-stem for adjusting the same and the valve to seat said valveagainst the partition and close the gas and water ports therein,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a water-chamber and a carbid-chamber, of apartition provided with packed water-ports, a gas-passage eX- tendingthrough the water-chamber and opening centrally through said partition,a Vcut-off valve arranged below the partition to control the admissionof water and the outlet of gas therethrough, a tubular stem attached tothe valve and extending through the gas-passage, a vent-valve shellmovable with the tubular stem, a spring-actuated vent-valve coniinedslidably Within said valve-shell and normally seated on the tubularstem, and a diaphragmregulator coniined in the gas-passage and connoctedwith said valve-stem to close the cu toit valve undera gas-pressurelower than the pressure required to open the vent-valve, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination with a carbid-chamber and a water-chamber, of apartition arranged between said chambers and provided with water-ports,a eut-oft valve arranged to be seated against said partition, adiaphragmregulator confined within a chamber which is in communicationwith the carbid-chamber, and avalve-stem attached to thediaphragmregulator and the cut-off valve to operatively connect saidparts, substantially as described.

S. The combination of a generator-shell having a water-chamber, a carbidvessel, a partition between said Water-chamber and the carbid vessel andprovided with water-ports, a diaphragm-regulator communicating with thegas-chamber of the carbid vessel, a cut-off valve arranged to be seatedagainst the partition to cover the water-ports therein, and a stein orrod attached to the diaphragm-regulator and the cut-oft valve,substantially as described.

9. The combination of a generator-shell having a central gas-tube and atop arranged to form,in connection with a cover, a diaphragmchamber andsaid shell also provided with a water-chamber, the carbid-receptacle, apartition or bottom between the carbid-receptacle and the water-chamberof the generator-shell and provided with ports for the passage of water,a diaphragm confined within the diaphragm-chamber, a main cut-oli. valvearranged to cover vthe ports in the partition or bottom, a valve-stemconnected to the diaphragm and the cut-off valve, and a spring whichassists the downward movement of the cut-off valve and its ste'm,substantially as described.

10. The combination with a generator-shell having a water-chamber and acarbid-chamber, of a main cut-oit valve arranged to control the Iiow ofwater from the generator-shell to the carbid vessel,a tubular valve-stemcom- I lnunicating with the carbid vessel and attached to the mainvalve, a diaphragm attached to the stem or rod and confined within achamber whichis in communication with the carbid vessel, and asafety-valve mounted on the tubular stem or rod to travel therewith andadapted to be opened by pressure within the carbid-chamber which exceedsthe pressure required to close the cut-off valve by action against thediaphragm, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a generator having water-inlet ports and agas-outlet port, of a cut-off valve to close the ports in said chamber,a tubular valve-stem movable with the cut-'off valve, apressure-regulator device contained within a chamber which communicateswith the carbid vessel and is attached to the stem to control the maincut-off valve, and a safety-valve seated against the tubular valvestemto travel therewith and arranged to be opened by excessive gas-pressurewithin the carbid-chamber when the main valve is operated by t-heregulator to close communication between the regulator-chamber and thecarbid vessel, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a supportingfrom the gas-passage, and aregulator mechanism connected actively with said valve, substantiallylas described.

13. The combination of a generator-shell having a water-chamber, apartition or bottom secured removably to said generator-shell andprovided with ports which' open into the water-chamber, a carbid vesselsecured removably to the partition or bottom, a cut-off vvalve arrangedto be seated against said partition or bottom, and a pressure-regulatorconnected operatively with said eut-oit valve, substantially asdescribed.

14:. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a water-chamberand a carbidchamber, of a partition or bottom provided with water-portshaving the packings and the adjustable compression-plugs for obstructingthe free Ilow of water therethrough, a cut-off valve arranged to beseated against said partition to close the water-ports therein, apressure-regulator to force the valve to its seat on anincrease ofgas-pressure abovea certain limit, and a depressing-spring seateddirectly against the valve to normally hold the latter free from itsseat on the partition, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a generator-shell and a carbid-receptacle, of apartition or bottom provided with the water-ports, adjustable perforatedplugs iitted in said ports,and packings contined within the ports andcompressed by said plugs, and a cut-oft valve to open or close saidports and the plugs therein, substantially as described.

16. In agas-generator, a partition between the water-chamber and acarbid vessel and provided with ports for the passage of water from onechamber to the other, and adjustable plugs fitted within said ports andarranged to control the volume of water-chamber pipes through the ports,in combination with a cut-off valve arranged to entirely cut off theflow of water through the ports and the plugs confined therein,substantially as described.

17. The combination with a valve arranged to control thc passage ofwater from the water-chamber toa carbid-chamber and adiaphragm-regulator, of a tubular valve-stem attached to said valve andthe diaphragm-regu- IOO Ito

lator and communicating with the carbidehamber, and a safety-valvehaving a eut-off mounted on the tubular vaive-stem to travel therewith,and said safety-Valve normally seated against the tubular Valve-stem toclose the Vent-port leading therefrom, whereby the tubular stem isadapted to serve as a Vent from the carbid-chamber, substantial] y asdescribed.

18. In a gas-generator, the combination of a shell having a centralgas-tube and a Water-chamber which surrounds said tube, a bottom orpartition secured to the shell and provided With a tubular boss whichfits in the gas-tube and with parts in the bottom of Jthe Water-ehamber,a purier having a

